Cast Vs Forged Golf Irons: What’s The Difference?
Technology inside the best golf irons seems to know no bounds but despite the high level of innovation involved, the manufacturing of irons (and wedges) boils down to just two techniques – cast or forged. So what’s the difference between the two and which type of iron should you choose?
Cast irons are made from a mould. Think of casting like making ice in your freezer. You are turning a liquid into a solid by using a mould. Cast irons tend to be made from a stainless steel alloy – the steel goes into a furnace, melts and is then poured into a ceramic mould. When everything has cooled down, the mould is broken, leaving the club inside.
VIDEO: Mizuno’s Chris Voshell explains the key differences between cast and forged irons
Cast irons are more commonly associated with cavity back, game improvement irons because manufacturers can be more creative with the design. The feel tends to be harder, a little less consistent and with a louder sound at impact because of the loss of the internal grain structure and because tiny air bubble can be produced during the process that absorb sound and vibration. Cast irons also tend to be cheaper than forged irons, which is one reason why these types of irons tend to sit at a lower price point than forged irons.
The best recent examples of cast irons would be the Ping G425, Callaway Rogue ST Max and the TaylorMade Stealth. You should be looking to choose a cast iron if you want to hit the ball higher and further and aren’t too bothered about experiencing a soft feel.
Forged iron heads having been pressed into shape
(Image credit: Future)
With forged irons, the club is fashioned from one piece of metal and so it is always in a solid state. The metal is heated until it is red hot, then hammered and crafted into shape by a very heavy press. They feel and sound different because there are no bubbles in a forged club, which gives them their longer sound, denser feel and more overall feedback.
The forging process also tightens the grains within the metal. Mizuno is one of the most…
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